What Is Your Hope? #sermon John 20:1-18
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Romans 8- God Be For Us!
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Romans 8:31-33
As a Christian, you are in a spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6) There is an ongoing battle for your soul, Satan wants to destroy you (1 Peter 5:8) while Jesus Christ wants to save you (1 Timothy 1:15) The question is what side of the battle are you on? Are you in The Lord’s army? (Joshua 5:13-15) Or are you another casualty of Satan and his dark Kingdom? Make no mistake, you are in the battle whether you realize it or not, there is only One who can save your soul, thats Jesus Christ (Matthew 10:28)
There is good news, this is what the word gospel means, Christ has already defeated Satan, sin, death, and Hell, we have victory in Jesus! (1 Corinthians 15) As the Apostle Paul states to us, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, “if God be for us, who can be against us?” (v31) All the demonic forces in the world can’t touch your soul, because you have the Spirit of the Living God inside of You, you are washed and protected by the blood of Christ, you are sanctified by the Holy Spirit , there is no demon that can stand against you! We have Victory in Christ!
That’s what really happened at the cross, while Satan thought he killed the Son of God, the Son of God actually crushed the head of the serpent (Genesis 3:15) Satan was defeated at the cross, death was defeated at the cross, sin was paid for at the cross , if God is for us, there is nobody who can stand against us in Jesus name! That is the power of the cross, that is what Jesus accomplished when He said “It Is Finished” (John 19:30)
Then of course on the 3rd day, Sunday morning Christ rose from the dead, this is why the resurrection of Christ is the foundation of our faith! Because Christ Is Risen, we can rise again with him! If you want a sign that death is defeated, Christ Is Risen! If you want assurance of Gods promises, Christ Is Risen! If you want to know why nobody can stand against you, its because Christ Is Risen!
God did not spare His own son, Jesus Christ, God so loved the world, God so loved you, He gave His Only Begotton Son, to die for our sins, to defeat sin, death, and Hell, repent and believe the gospel, repent and give your life to Jesus Christ, because Christ has already given his life for you!
We are justified by the Father, we are atoned for by the Son, we are sealed by the Holy Spirit, All glory to God, Holy, Holy, Holy , Amen!
7 Significant Reasons for Palm Sunday #sermon Matthew 21:1-11
Response to WOKE Church Signs
Romans 8- Will of God
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. Romans 8:28-30
One thing we have to remember is “God is in complete control” Many people will argue against the existence of God because of the evil in this world, but understand this world is under the curse because of sin (Genesis 3:17) However even though this world is under the control of the evil one (1 John 5:19) God is in control, and “God will work all things for our good” (v28) This is a difficult concept for our minds to comprehend, how can anything good come from this fallen world, but in Christ we have the final victory as Jesus has already overcome the world (John 16:33)
Let me ask you, are you fulfilling your calling in Christ? As the Apostle Paul reveals here “to them who are called according to His purpose” You might say I don’t see God working in my life or I don’t see spiritual fruit being produced, the question you should be asking yourself are you following Gods will for your life? Or are you trying to enforce your own will on God? As the Apostle James says “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” (James 4:3) You are enforcing your own will instead Gods will for your life, therefor you never grow in The Lord
So what is Gods will for our life? Here is good insight by the Apostle Paul “to be conformed to the image of his Son” The goal in our life should be to be like our Lord Jesus. This is a process call sanctification of the Holy Spirit, (Titus 3:5) you should be growing in The Lord, The Holy Spirit is working on you every day, to be more like Jesus. The carnally minded person says “I don’t want that”, well then your not Born Again in Christ (John 3:3)
Then the Apostle Paul gives us some great theology here , first God calls, then justifies, then glorifies. You are first called by Christ to be saved (1 Corinthians 1:9) Yes we need to respond to this calling, but God has called you to come home! But of course we are separated from God because of our sin (Isaiah 59:2) This is what Jesus did for us on the cross, he died for our sins and made us justified before our Father (2 Corinthians 5:21) You might say, but I’m still stuck in this sinful body, one day you will be resurrected into a glorified perfect body (1 Corinthians 15:42-44) During this process our souls are being sanctified by the Holy Spirit, and we are sealed for the day of our redemption (Ephesians 1:13)
This is the will for your life, be more like Jesus, how to be more like Christ? Repent and turn to Jesus , Christ will save and transform your life, Amen!
Romans 8- Pray for Us, Holy Spirit!
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God Romans 8:26-27
Jesus said “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.” (John 16:7) The Holy Spirit was sent to us for our advantage, for many reasons, the Holy Spirit is our Counselor, our Teacher, our Comforter, our Advocate, (John 14:26) But also as we learn from the scriptures today, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us when we don’t know what to pray
We have all been there , when our life was in desperation, maybe we were going through a trial or tribulation, and we wanted to cry out to our Heavenly Father, however the pain we were dealing with is so great, we don’t know where to even begin or what to say. As the Apostle Paul teaches us “The Spirit helps us in our weakness/infirminities” This might be why the Holy Spirit is called the Comforter, (John 14:26) You are not alone, you are never alone, because the Spirit of the Living God lives inside of You as a Born Again Believer in Christ
“For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (v26) When we don’t know what to pray, the Holy Spirit will pray for us, the Holy Spirit will intercede to the Father and Son for You. This is how connected you are with God in Christ. So even if you don’t know what to say, get on your knees and allow the Holy Spirit to pray for you.
As the Apostle Paul also reveals “ He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is” God searches your heart and mind, God already knows what your going to say before you even say it, God knows whats on your heart and mind even if you don’t say it, this is the relationship we have with our Father through Jesus Christ. If the Holy Spirit lives inside of you, the Holy Spirit knows your life, there is nothing that can be hidden from God. If you are suffering, the Holy Spirit knows your suffering, if your rejoicing, the Holy Spirit knows your rejoicing. This is why the Holy Spirit can intercede for you to God.
If you want to connect with God and don’t know what to say, pray and allow the Holy Spirit to intercede for you , as the Apostle Paul says here “because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God” The Holy Spirit makes intercession for you according to the will of God. If you reject the Holy Spirit, you are rejecting the will of God. It is to your advantage that Christ has sent you the Holy Spirit, Amen!
Romans 8- What Is Your Hope?
For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance Romans 8:22-25
Many non-believers will ask the question “How can there be a God, when there is so much evil in the world”? What most of them don’t understand, by them acknowledging evil exists, they are acknowledging God exists. If God didn’t exist, then there would be no standard of good and evil, how do we define evil without God? If we are just random molecules that have evolved into humans with no purpose or future, what does it matter if there is evil in the world? But as the Apostle Paul reveals under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,” (Romans 1:20)
So the whole creation groans and labors until the return of Christ! You hear it everyday, people complaining about the status of the world, the difference is us Christians have hope because of Christ, while the rest of the world has no hope, just misery in the suffering of the fallen world. The Apostle Paul describes our current state like a woman in labor pains, Jesus actually described it this way also “A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.” (John 16:21)
The Apostle Paul goes on to describe it “we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body” What is the Apostle Paul referring to here? Paul is referencing the final resurrection, when we are raised and given our glorified bodies (2 Corinthians 5:2) There will be no more pain, suffering, or death (Revelation 21:4) For death has been defeated at the cross by Christ (1 Corinthians 15:54-57) Jesus has already overcome the world (John 16:33) So I will ask you, what gives you hope in this fallen world?
“For we were saved in this hope” (v24) We have hope and victory in Jesus Christ, again I ask what is your hope? Without Christ there is no hope for you in this world, the world will continue to groan in its pain and suffering because of its sin, but Christ has given us victory. As the author of Hebrews states “Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1)
And this should be the motto of the Church “we eagerly await for it with perseverance” (v25) I have good news for you brothers and sisters, Jesus is coming back! Wait for it with perseverance and patience, don’t fall away to the miseries of this world, stay on the narrow path of life! Amen!
What Is The Church? #sermon James 5:13-20 #james
Romans 8- The New Exodus
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. Romans 8:18-21
Another one of the great lies today in Christianity, is the prosperity gospel. This idea that if you give your life to Christ, you will be physically blessed with wealth, health, and happiness. This false teaching has blinded millions of people and has created millions of false converts, that have never truly repented or became Born Again. The reality is when you become a Christian, your life is going to get harder. You are sealed with the Holy Spirit, and become a target for the demons in this spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6) If you don’t believe me, you haven’t been a Christian long enough
Jesus said “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. “ (Matthew 16:24) Did you get that? If you want to be a disciple of Christ, you must carry your cross! This is why “Friends with the world are enemies of God” (James 4:4) If you think becoming a Christian will make you greater in this world, you have no understanding of the world or Christ, this same world killed the Son of God because Christ is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6)
The Apostle Paul teaches us “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed” Paul is warning us we will suffer in this present world, not be prosperous. Think about the life of the Apostle Paul, he was repeatedly beaten, imprisoned, impoverished, and eventually was beheaded for His faith in Christ. Does that sound like the prosperity gospel of today? Don’t be deceived brothers and sisters, as our Lord said “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36) We look forward to Gods Kingdom to come, right now the world is ruled by the evil one (1 John 5:19)
“For creation waits in eager expectation” (v19) What are we waiting for? The Return of our Lord (Matthew 24:36-44), the establishment of Gods Kingdom (Daniel 2:44), the resurrection of our glorified bodies (1 Corinthians 15:42-44) for Satan to be cast in the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:10), we wait upon The Lord! (Isaiah 40:31) You might ask why? The next verse answers “For creation was subjected to futility or depravity” (v20) The whole world is under the curse of death because of our sin (Galatians 3:10)
So where is the good news? There is hope in Christ because The Lord defeated sin and death on the cross! Next verse “Creation itself will also be delivered from the bondage of corruption/decay (death) into the glorious liberty of the children of God (v21) This is the New Exodus, we are delivered from the slavery of sin and death by our Lord Jesus Christ! Amen!
Romans 8- Children of God
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. Romans 8:12-17
Are you a Child of God? There is a false teaching that is popular today, stating everyone is a Child of God, don’t be deceived brethren, this is not the case. We are all made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) However we have become enemies of God because of our sin (Romans 5:10) We have been separated from God, because of our sin (Isaiah 59:2) and the only way we can be reconciled back to God is through Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20)
As the Apostle Paul says here, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, “if you live after the flesh, you shall die” Unless you are Born Again (John 3:3) you are spiritually dead, you are not a Child of God but an enemy of God. This is why the Son of God became flesh (John 1:14) and died for your sins on the cross, to reconcile you back to our Father in Heaven. Teaching people they are children of God, while still dead in their sins, is a great heresy and it nullifies the cross of Christ!
“But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” Jesus said unless you are Born Again, you will not see the Kingdom of God (John 3:3) Through Christ you will live, because Christ already died for you! Without the blood of Christ there is no hope for you, you are an enemy of God who is dead in your sins. But there is “Good News” and that is the gospel message, without understanding the bad news, you can’t understand the good news, that through Christ you can be saved! As Paul states here “Those who are led by the Spirit of God are Children of God”
The Apostle Paul never said everyone is a child of God, Paul said you must be led by the Holy Spirit, you must be washed by the blood of the lamb (Revelation 7:14) “but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons and daughters by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” (v15) You are no longer enemies of God, but you have been adopted as Gods children, not only that we can call God Abba our Father. Think about how powerful this is, you were an enemy of God and now you can call God your Father. You are a Child of God through Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:26)
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, (v16) The Holy Spirit seals us (Ephesians 1:13) and testifies for us that we are Children of God , heirs with Christ (v17) Thank you Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen!
Unashamed of Jesus 